The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-02-12
THE FIRST BLOOD.
Lieutenant Brownell Tells the
Story Of Colonel Ellis
wQrth's Death.


at was early in the spring of 1861"
said Lieutenant Frank E. Brownell to
the Tribune in referring to the death of
Colonel E. E. Ellsworth, whose tragic
end caused such a sensation At the out
break of the war. Lieutenant Brownell
is retired army officer and is also
special examiner in the pension Office
at this city. The matter of Colonel
Ellsworth's death has been recently re-
vived by the appointment to Office of
Miss Amelia jackson, daughter of
the man who fired the shot that ended
the brave young officers life.
II had formed the acquaintance of
Colonel Ellsworth when we were both
young men," continued Lieutenant
Brownel. ''Iwas scarcely sixteen when
we first met. l formed strong attach
ment for him upon our first meeting,
but l little thought how the future
would bring us together. Colonel
Ellsworth was but little older than my
self. In fact when he met his death he
was only twenty-four years old. Very
early in life he saw the weakness of the
military condition of the country and
realized the need of more thorough
discipline among the militia. He seemed
to have presentiment of the coming
war. When q mere boy he left the
town of Mechanicsville, twelve miles
from Troy, N. Y, where he was born,
and went to New York City. He had
nothing but . common school educa-
ton. but labored hard during his leisure
moments to fit himself to enter West
Point. He failed to secure cadetship,
however, having no influential friends,
and soon afterward started for Chicago
1t was in the latter city that he formed
his famous company of zouaves- He
was very poor in those days. and in his
diary that his parents gave me after his
death there are notes that show that
sometimes he actually went hungry for
an entire day. His company of zouaves
was composed Of young men of about
his own age, and when they made their
famous tour through the North they not
only created positive furore, but they
showed the people what could be done
by rigid discipline. During their entire
trip not q member of the company
slept on bed unless he was sick, but
every night each man rolled himself up
in his blanket and slept on the armory
floor. Ellsworth inspired his men with
the same love of military glory that
filed his own breast. Every city they
visited was wrought up to q frenzy of
enthusiasm by the brilliant evolutions
and marvellous drill of the company.
When they visited Troy there was
great excitement, and had further
opportunity to extend my acquaintance
with their gallant young commander,
rs two members of his company were
old friends of mine.
ut was after the zouaves returned
to Chicago and disbanded, believe,
that young Ellsworth first met Abraham
Lincoln. Ellsworth had began the
study of law. and when Mr.. Lincoln
offered him an opportunity to complete
his studies in his Office at Springfield
Ellsworth jumped at the chance. He
believed that Mr.. Lincoln would be
elected President. and If he was he saw
the possibility that he might be in a
position to attain the greatest hope OF
his life. President Lincoln recognized
him officially soon after his election
and his protege was thus placed on the
high road to success. Early in 1861 he
went to New York with the express
purpose of raising regiment. Upon
his arrival at the metropolis he had q
consultation with the fire commission.
ers, and l think it was Sunday morning
that read in the New York papers
that Ellsworth was in New York for the
purpose of raising men. I was living
ut Troy at that time with my
father. All day Saturday deliberated
whether or not should join with him.
WANTED TO 60 to the war and believed
that it would be long time before
there would be . regiment raised al
home. Sunday morning decided
to go, and knowing that my
mother would make objections
to my plans, concluded to avoid q
scene and accordingly left for New
York that night without telling any one
where / was going. Notices had been
placed in all the fire engine houses al
New York stating the fact that Els
worth intended raising regiment, and
although others had hard trouble to
raise any large number of men in weeks
or months, it was only few days be.
fore 1000 men had signed his rolls.
Many Of these were men from the fire
department and were full of life and
spirit. The prominence of the young
commander, the readiness with which
he found men who were ready to follow
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